Abstract
Biblical theology aims to move beyond exegesis and critical analysis of the biblical text to hear from God, learn about God, and obey God. Thus, on the one hand, biblical theology belongs in the church. On the other hand, however, the biblical text lays claim to the ethics of any who confess it as Scripture and presents an approach to ethical leadership that can be considered by nonreligious proponents. Further, biblical theology is a self-consciously evangelistic activity as it is presented to the nonreligious, even for critical consideration. Thus, biblical theology can be used for ethical leadership to teach followers of the biblical text, as a lens into the leadership ethics of followers for the nonreligious, and a means of describing the practice of the Christian narrative for adherents and critics alike.
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Notes
- 1.
Longbotham and Gutierrez (2007) argue that Scripture can “validat[e] effective organizational principles” (99–100). Rather than going to the biblical text to find and/or developing a principle, Longbotham and Gutierrez described this methodology as looking “through the lens backwards” (100).
- 2.
Faulhaber (2007) used transformational leadership as the lens by which to understand 1 Peter. This use of the Bible didn’t assume that 1 Peter was confirming or critiquing this leadership theory, but analyzed 1 Peter with the traits of transformational leadership in mind.
- 3.
Mahan (2012) argued that organizational theory can help to develop the application of Christian teaching (or doctrine).
- 4.
For a brief overview, see Cosgrove (2011).
- 5.
Joel Green uses the spatial imagery of behind, in, in front of the text in Seized by Truth . The image is not unique to Green, but I find his description simple and clear.
- 6.
See Merold Westphal, Whose Community ? Which Interpretation ? Philosophical Hermeneutics for the Church (2009) for a deeper yet introductory discussion.
- 7.
Scot McKnight (2016), writes, “one cannot read the OT in a Christian way without knowing the resolution in the NT.”
- 8.
The following four clarifications draw heavily upon Dan Migliore, Faith Seeking Understanding, but I extend, modify, and diverge from his thinking at various points (2014, 49–52).
- 9.
For more on the authority of Scripture , see Wright (2005).
- 10.
This is the methodology of Oliver O’Donovan as Craig G. Bartholomew (2002) writes, “Scripture undergirds and informs all of O’Donovan’s work . However, his ethic is not only biblical but also theological; it recognizes the need for concepts and models to mediate between Scripture and ethical issues….” (20).
- 11.
What O’Donovan provided is a theological rationale to consider Scripture as the source of the moral duty as it witnesses to a unified ethic under the reign of Christ (1994, 20). We have leaned mightily on O’Donovan’s method of biblical theology and a unified ethic from Scripture . While “O’Donovan has little discussion of the discipline of biblical theology , …clearly his analysis of the unity of Scripture is along these lines” (Bartholomew 2002, 36).
- 12.
www.firstthings.com/blogs/leithart/2013/12/what-is-biblical-theology. Accessed March 6, 2017. Unfortunately, this link is no longer working. Peter Leithart has since started contributing to the blogosphere at http://www.patheos.com/blogs/leithart/.
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Perry, A. (2018). Biblical Theology. In: Biblical Theology for Ethical Leadership. Christian Faith Perspectives in Leadership and Business. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75043-9_4
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